What do you think?
Rate this book
A Christian Mind: Thoughts on Life and Truth in Jesus Christ
A Christian Mind presents the best of Tom Gilson's original work from his highly popular Thinking Christian more than 45 fresh, original works of Christian thinking.
Tom Gilson has a way of uncovering questions others haven't noticed, leading toward answers that will open your eyes to new insights about life and truth in Jesus Christ.
For
* What does it mean when John the Baptist, famous in Scripture for his humility, says something that doesn't sound the least bit "humble" at all?
* Who else but Jesus ever had any kind of unusual power, yet never used his power for his own benefit? What can we learn from his unique place in all history — and even in all literature?
* Have you ever noticed the Bible never says Jesus had faith? Why doesn't it?
* Does Jesus really want to relate with us? Of course. Even while we're tempted, though, or even sinning?
* People who want to be very inclusive in their religious views treat the Cross of Christ as one of many ways to salvation. Why should it be obvious even to them that's not possible?
* Jesus was willing to leave many, many questions unanswered in his teaching. Should we be willing to do that, too?
* Genesis 1:1 is totally unique among all stories of creation. God's "I AM" statements in Exodus are, too. What does that tell us about our faith?
* Skeptics say "there's no evidence for faith." What's the true understanding of the word "faith" that makes that accusation true, in ways they never expected, without undermining true faith at all?
* What if I "identify" as a perfectly tolerant person? (Some humor in this one.)
* "Tolerance," the way the world understands it these days is a weak, wimpy substitute for a virtue. What does the real thing look like?
* Religious liberals shout that "Jesus never excluded anyone." What do they get right in that, and where are they tragically wrong?
And more...
In an age of increasing challenges against the faith, Tom Gilson's thoughts on life and truth in Jesus Christ will lead you, too, to develop your Christian mind.
Tom Gilson has a way of uncovering questions others haven't noticed, leading toward answers that will open your eyes to new insights about life and truth in Jesus Christ.
For
* What does it mean when John the Baptist, famous in Scripture for his humility, says something that doesn't sound the least bit "humble" at all?
* Who else but Jesus ever had any kind of unusual power, yet never used his power for his own benefit? What can we learn from his unique place in all history — and even in all literature?
* Have you ever noticed the Bible never says Jesus had faith? Why doesn't it?
* Does Jesus really want to relate with us? Of course. Even while we're tempted, though, or even sinning?
* People who want to be very inclusive in their religious views treat the Cross of Christ as one of many ways to salvation. Why should it be obvious even to them that's not possible?
* Jesus was willing to leave many, many questions unanswered in his teaching. Should we be willing to do that, too?
* Genesis 1:1 is totally unique among all stories of creation. God's "I AM" statements in Exodus are, too. What does that tell us about our faith?
* Skeptics say "there's no evidence for faith." What's the true understanding of the word "faith" that makes that accusation true, in ways they never expected, without undermining true faith at all?
* What if I "identify" as a perfectly tolerant person? (Some humor in this one.)
* "Tolerance," the way the world understands it these days is a weak, wimpy substitute for a virtue. What does the real thing look like?
* Religious liberals shout that "Jesus never excluded anyone." What do they get right in that, and where are they tragically wrong?
And more...
In an age of increasing challenges against the faith, Tom Gilson's thoughts on life and truth in Jesus Christ will lead you, too, to develop your Christian mind.
262 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 17, 2017
12 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
Tom Gilson
11 books25 followersTom Gilson writes on the truth of Jesus Christ for a world that's more and more confused about spiritual reality every day. His areas of special interest include sexuality, science rationality, and above all, Jesus Christ himself.
He's a senior editor at the highly respected Christian news and commentary website The Stream (stream.org). Since 2007 he's also run the widely praised Thinking Christian blog at thinkingchristian.net, where he developed a reputation for consistent strength combined with grace in his many interactions with people from all over the spiritual spectrum, and from all over the world.
Tom has served as Vice President for Strategic Services at the campus apologetics ministry Ratio Christi. Prior to that he was on staff with Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ) for 34 years, serving in HR leadership and internal strategic consulting, as well as a two-year stint on loan with the (Chuck) Colson Center for Christian Worldview, writing and working on strategies.
He holds an M.S. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of Central Florida, and a B.Mus. in Music Education from Michigan State University.
Tom lives near Dayton, Ohio where he enjoys canoeing, walking in the woods, and playing his trombones. His wife, Sara, and he have two grown, both married, one living nearby and the other married to an Army captain and living where they're assigned.
Find out more about Tom's speaking and writing at thinkingchristian.net.
He's a senior editor at the highly respected Christian news and commentary website The Stream (stream.org). Since 2007 he's also run the widely praised Thinking Christian blog at thinkingchristian.net, where he developed a reputation for consistent strength combined with grace in his many interactions with people from all over the spiritual spectrum, and from all over the world.
Tom has served as Vice President for Strategic Services at the campus apologetics ministry Ratio Christi. Prior to that he was on staff with Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ) for 34 years, serving in HR leadership and internal strategic consulting, as well as a two-year stint on loan with the (Chuck) Colson Center for Christian Worldview, writing and working on strategies.
He holds an M.S. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of Central Florida, and a B.Mus. in Music Education from Michigan State University.
Tom lives near Dayton, Ohio where he enjoys canoeing, walking in the woods, and playing his trombones. His wife, Sara, and he have two grown, both married, one living nearby and the other married to an Army captain and living where they're assigned.
Find out more about Tom's speaking and writing at thinkingchristian.net.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
March 18, 2026
A Christian blogger puts out 45 of his best articles...
1) I don't think Gilson is as original and fresh as he thinks he is. I read the first 70 pages or so and I can't say I found much that was breathtakingly engaging. He says many true things without saying many new things.
2) His article on old-earth vs. young-earth creationism irritated me. He fell into the Hugh Ross trap that many Christians do and this makes him trot out the tired old cliche of "I know enough to know that I don't need to know" (my paraphrase). YEC has withstood decades of lazy criticism, academic scrutiny, and frequent misrepresentation. Gilson could at least make the effort to engage with the best the YEC camp has to offer instead of rushing to the sanctimonious sidelines and waving a flag of spiritual snobbery from the nosebleeds. If you're not willing to do that, then I am not going to be very interested in what you have to say. Put in the work before dropping the words. I'm afraid that was the nail in the coffin for me. Over and out Mr. Gilson
Overall, I didn't come to this book with high expectations. So while I'm disappointed I'll get it over it and this book pretty fast.
1) I don't think Gilson is as original and fresh as he thinks he is. I read the first 70 pages or so and I can't say I found much that was breathtakingly engaging. He says many true things without saying many new things.
2) His article on old-earth vs. young-earth creationism irritated me. He fell into the Hugh Ross trap that many Christians do and this makes him trot out the tired old cliche of "I know enough to know that I don't need to know" (my paraphrase). YEC has withstood decades of lazy criticism, academic scrutiny, and frequent misrepresentation. Gilson could at least make the effort to engage with the best the YEC camp has to offer instead of rushing to the sanctimonious sidelines and waving a flag of spiritual snobbery from the nosebleeds. If you're not willing to do that, then I am not going to be very interested in what you have to say. Put in the work before dropping the words. I'm afraid that was the nail in the coffin for me. Over and out Mr. Gilson
Overall, I didn't come to this book with high expectations. So while I'm disappointed I'll get it over it and this book pretty fast.
Displaying 1 of 1 review